Degrees offered: M.M, D.M.A.
Established by Charles C. Hirt, the department has long been an innovator and leader in the development of graduate degree programs specifically designed for the choral conductor and the church musician. Graduates conduct choral groups of national prominence, hold positions as music directors and conductors of choirs in churches throughout America, and teach choral and church music throughout the world. The current faculty consists of specialists who lead regional choral and church groups and serve as clinicians and guest conductors in the United States and abroad.
William Dehning, chair of the Choral and
Church Music Department, in rehearsal with
the USC Chamber Singers
Choral Music
Audition
Applicants should submit a statement of objectives along with evidence of at least two years of experience as a choral conductor for the M.M. degree, four years for the D.M.A. A tape recording of at least 30 minutes' duration of a choral group conducted by the applicant should be submitted. Choral works of several periods and styles and at least one work from the contemporary period must be included.
Master of Music/Doctor of Musical Arts
Prerequisite-applicants must hold a bachelor of music degree or its equivalent. Completed course work must include at least the following: Conducting 340, 343 and 441; Music History and Literature 280b and 385b; Theory and Composition 233b, 332b, 338x and 340x. One year of German or French is strongly recommended. Applicants must have attained senior standing in a principal performance medium.
Keyboard Proficiency
A keyboard proficiency test will be given by the choral faculty during the student's first semester in residence to determine if additional study in keyboard is required.
Final Oral Examination
Master's Only
A final oral examination in choral literature, conducting and rehearsal techniques will be administered by the choral music faculty.
Curriculum Requirements-
M.M.Units MUCM 540 (2), 541 (2), 542 (2), 543 (2), 590 (2) 10 MUCD 443 (2), 541 (6) 8 Ensemble 2 MUHL 570 (2), electives at 500 level (4) 6 MUPF 441a (2), 401VO (2) 4 Graduate recital 0 30
Curriculum Requirements-
D.M.A.Units Basic D.M.A. curriculum 24 MUCM 641 (2), 694 (2), 790 (2) 6 MUCH 571 (2) 2 MUCD 641 8 Ensemble (400 level; choral music majors must participate in a choral ensemble each semester if enrolled for 4 or more units) 2 MUPF 401VO (2), 653CD (2) 4 MUTC 441 2 Conduct two principal choral concerts (at least one of which will include instrumental ensemble) and one lecture-recital or appropriate appearance as a conductor, soloist or accompanist. No more than two of the three recitals or appearances may take place before the successful completion of the qualifying examination. 0
Church Music
Audition
Applicants for the major in church music should submit a statement of career objectives and a 15-minute tape recording of the applicant's performance in the principal performance medium.
Master of Music/Doctor of Musical Arts
Prerequisite-applicants must hold a bachelor of music degree or its equivalent. Completed course work must include at least the following: Conducting 340, 343 and 441; Music History and Literature 280b and 385b; Theory and Composition 233b, 332b, 338x and 340x. One year of German or French is strongly recommended. Applicants must have attained senior standing in a principal performance medium.
Keyboard and Voice Proficiency
Proficiency tests in keyboard and voice will be given by the choral and church music faculty during the student's first semester in residence to determine if additional study in either medium is required.
Final Oral Examination
Master's Only
A final oral examination in church music and related areas will be administered by the church and choral music faculty.
Curriculum Requirements-
M.M.Units MUCM 540 (2), 541 (2), 542 (2) 6 MUCH 470 (3), 473 (2), 474 (2) or MUPF 441a (2), 571 (2), 590 (2) 11 MUCD 541 (4) 4 Ensemble 2 MUHL 570 (2), electives at the 500 level (2) 4 MUPF 401 or 453 (OR or VO) 3 Graduate recital or project 0 30
* May be taken as part of the master's degree.
Curriculum Requirements-
D.M.A.Units Basic D.M.A. curriculum 24 MUCM 641 (2) 2 MUCH 474 (2)*, 641 (2), 790 (2), 794ab (4) 10 MUCD 641 4 Choral Ensemble 2 MUPF 441a (2)*, 443 (2), 401 or 453
or 553 (P, OR or VO) (4)8 MUTC 434a (2) or 441 (2) 2
Dissertation Options
For the D.M.A. in church music there are two options for fulfilling dissertation requirements, the choice to be made by the candidate in consultation with the guidance committee.
Option I
The candidate will write a dissertation conforming to USC regulations in format and method of preparation.
Option II
The candidate will present two lecture-recitals or a performance of a sacred choral work, or works, as the culmination of the historical and stylistic study of a circumscribed body of literature. This study and an analysis of the problems encountered in performance will be dealt with in a document which, although shorter than a dissertation, will conform to the technical requirements of Option I.
